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Federal indictments target 19 members of Latin Kings, Two Six Nation gangs

Posted: Dec 03 2015 04:24PM CST

Updated: Dec 03 2015 04:24PM CST

CHICAGO (STMW) - Federal authorities announced two indictments Thursday targeting 17 members of the Latin Kings street gang and two members of the Two Six Nation with charges ranging from murder and sex trafficking to narcotics distribution in northwest Indiana.

In one indictment, 17 members or associates of the Latin Kings, all from factions in Hammond, East Chicago and Gary, are charged with a criminal conspiracy that spanned from 2003 until November 2015, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Uvalle and 35-year-old Melinda Milton, of East Chicago, also face several counts of sex trafficking by fraud or coercion, and interstate transportation for prostitution, prosecutors said.

Also, Anton James has been previously charged with fatally shooting Martin Hurtado Sr. on Oct. 28, 2014, authorities said. This count carries over unchanged from the first indictment.

In a separate indictment announced Thursday, two Two Six Nation street gang members were charged with murder in aid of racketeering, and use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, prosecutors said.

Anthony Laviena, 35, of Staten Island, New York; and 45-year-old Deaundra L. Joshua, aka “D Ruff,” of Gary, were charged in connection with the Oct. 6, 1999, fatal shooting of Albert “Greeny” Guzman. Laviena and Joshua allegedly shot Guzman in order to “maintain and enhance” their positions within the gang, prosecutors said.

The Two Six Nation indictment also names two more members of the gang. On Jan. 5, 1991, Jesus Fuentes, who recently pleaded guilty in federal court to racketeering, and his associates, shot and killed a Latin Kings member, Miguel Fernandez, in East Chicago, during an attempted robbery. Also, on Oct. 30, 1997, Fuentes directed Hammond resident Julio Cartagena, now deceased, to kill Edwardo Miranda in Gary because Miranda was believed to have stolen weapons from the gang.

“We have repeatedly announced that if you are a member of a violent street gang we are coming after you,” U.S. Attorney David Capp said in the statement. “Today’s indictments are the latest in our ongoing enforcement effort to eliminate these criminal organizations from northwest Indiana. It does not matter how old you are or when your criminal conduct occurred, you are next.”